Camouflaging on chip, methods, and systems and its use for testing biological and non-biological analytes

(canceled)

(canceled)

4:

• The apparatus of claim 1, wherein binding of the analyte to the first detectable agent triggers configuration of the masking agent to form an unmasked or mask-free signal zone that allows detection of the first detectable agent.

5:

• The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the masking agent comprises a masking fluid that masks the one or more characteristic of the first detectable agent and binding of the analyte to the first detectable agent disperses masking fluid around the first detectable agent to allow detection of the first detectable agent which is indicative of the presence of the analyte.

(canceled)

(canceled)

8:

• The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first detectable agent includes one or more first detectable particles affixed to a surface of a substrate, the first detectable particles being configured to specifically bind the analyte and the one or more first detectable particles affixed to the surface of the substrate are covered with the masking fluid in an absence of the analyte.

(canceled)

10:

• The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a detection agent that specifically binds to the analyte to form a detection agent-analyte-particle complex, the detection agent being masked by the masking fluid when the analyte is not bound to the detectable particle and the detection agent.

11:

• The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the masking fluid visually masks the first detectable particles that do not form the detection agent-analyte-particle complex.

12:

• The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the detection agent of the complex catalyzes conversion of the masking fluid into a gas that disperses masking fluid around the complex to form the fluid-free zone and allowing optical detection of the complex on the substrate.

13:

• The apparatus of, claim 11 wherein the first detectable particles comprise a plurality of microbeads and the microbeads have a diameter of about 10 μm to about 1 mm.

(canceled)

15:

• The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first detectable particles include a capturing agent on outer surfaces of the first detectable particles that specifically bind to the analyte.

16:

• The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the capturing agent includes at least one of a small molecule, nucleotide, protein, antibody or streptavidin.

(canceled)

18:

• The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the capturing agent includes streptavidin and the analyte includes a biotin-modified nucleic acid or peptide.

(canceled)

20:

• The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the detection agent includes platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs).

21:

• The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the PtNPs are conjugated to streptavidin, or anti-biotin antibodies.

22:

• The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the masking fluid has a color that visually masks the first detectable particles appearance upon loading of the masking fluid onto the surface of the substrate.

23:

• The apparatus of any of claim 8 to 22, wherein the masking fluid includes a peroxide solution.

(canceled)

25:

• The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the substrate includes at least one microchannel that extends along a portion of the substrate, the microchannel including the first detectable particles and masking fluid.

(canceled)

27:

• The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising one or more second detectable agent, the second detectable agent including second detectable particles affixed to the surface of the substrate and the second detectable particles include a second plurality of second capture agents to specifically bind a second analyte.

(canceled)

29:

• The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a second detection agent that specifically bind the second analyte to form a second detection agent-analyte-particle complex that forms a fluid-free zone around the second agent-analyte-particle complex allowing for detection of the second agent-analyte-particle complex on the substrate.

30:

• The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the one or more second detectable particles are a substantially different color than the first detectable particles.

31-33. (canceled)

35-53. (canceled)